The Insight
Summer 2010
Talking Book / Special Needs Library
Jacksonville Public Library
Blind Cool Tech
If you’re looking for in depth information pertaining to all sorts of technological gadgets like cell phones, mp3 players, computer programs, or the new digital Talking Book Player you should check out a website called Blind Cool Tech. This website features a collection of podcasts (which are like audio magazine articles) that can be listened to on a computer or mp3 player. Take a listen to the podcast that reviews the digital Talking Book Player for an insightful and comprehensive description of the machine and its uses. You’ll also find podcasts featuring sound seeing tours, interviews and other interesting topics. Here’s the address: www.blindcooltech.com.
Video Described TV Programs
Did you know that The Simpsons and CSI: Crime Scene Investigators as well as many PBS television programs include audio description? Lately I’ve had customers call to ask for information about the availability of audio described TV programs. In April 2002 the FCC mandated that audio description (often called video description) be available for television programs but this measure was blocked by television providers and is still unavailable in many cities. Many of the digital TV converter boxes have the capability of accessing multiple audio signals, also called SAPs or Secondary Audio Programs. I’ve heard that the converter boxes from the cable and satellite television providers like Comcast, Dish Network and DirecTV appears as though they have the capability of accessing multiple audio signals, it’s just that there is currently nothing to access. A good resource for the ongoing developments of this issue is the American Council of the Blind’s The Audio Description Project which can be found at the following website: www.acb.org/adp/index.html.
If you are interested in accessing video description and you are a subscriber to cable or satellite television you might consider calling your provider to ask them about the availability of video description in your area. Here are the phone numbes to local cable and satellite providers:
Comcast: 1-800-226-2278
Dish Network: 1-866-686-2388
DirecTV: 1-800-531-5000
New Books
Fiction
RC/DB069404
Relentless by Dean Koontz
When bestselling NoveList Cullen "Cubby" Greenwich learns his newest book has been savagely panned by major literary critic Shearman Waxx, Cubby's wife suggests he ignore the review. But Cubby orchestrates a meeting with Shearman that endangers Cubby's family.
RC/DB069368
Mr. and Miss Anonymous by Fern Michaels
College students Lily Madison and Peter Kelly meet as donors at a California fertility clinic. Years later the two run into each other only to discover that a school massacre has occurred--and one of the surviving kids looks just like Peter.
RC/DB068292
Show No Fear: a Nina Reilly Mystery by Perri O'Shaughnessy
In this prequel to the Nina Reilly Mystery series, Nina is a paralegal and law student in Carmel-by-the-Sea. When her ex-boyfriend and her mother are both murdered, Nina enlists the help of lawyer Jack McIntyre and detective Paul van Wagoner.
RC067916
Best Stories of the American West: Volume 1 by Marc Jaffe
Twenty short western stories. In Pete Fromm's "Snow Cave" a father and his twelve-year-old son become stranded on a hunting trip. Other authors include Max Evans, Elmer Kelton, William Kittredge, Valerie Miner, Luis Alberto Urrea, and Richard S. Wheeler.
“All that mankind has done, though, gained or been: it is lying as in magic preservation in the pages of books.” quote by Thomas Carlyle
New Books
Nonfiction
RC/DB069401
Stealing Buddha's Dinner: a Memoir by William Queen
Vietnamese professor describes growing up as a immigrant in 1980s Michigan, where she felt like an outsider among the Dutch-descended blondes. Relates her experience of cultural differences and conflicting desires, like wanting both her native cuisine and American junk food.
RC/DB068810
Jesus, Interrupted: Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible (and Why We Don't Know About Them) by Bart D. Ehrman
In this companion to Misquoting Jesus, biblical historian Ehrman reveals the divergent views of scholars concerning the true nature of Jesus and the concept of salvation. Discusses the historical Jesus, the writers of the Bible, and the origins of Christianity.
RC/DB068142
Seven Hundred Seventy-Seven Great Clean Jokes: a Sparkling Collection of Unsullied Humor
by Jennifer Hahn
Categories include animals, church, education, electronics, family, finances, food, history, jobs, law, leisure, love, marriage, medicine, music, nature, senior moments, space, sports, and travel. A sample joke is "What do you call a grizzly bear with no teeth? A gummy bear."
RC/DB068912
Priceless Memories by Bob Barker
Barker reminisces about his fifty years on television--as host of shows The Price Is Right, Truth or Consequences, and the Miss USA pageant. He also describes his childhood, long marriage to his childhood sweetheart, love of animals, and work as an activist for animal rights.
“Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest.” quote by Lady Bird Johnson
Reading for Children & Young Adults
RC064745
Technical Foul by Rich Wallace
Jared is a high-scoring basketball player, but he tends to hog the ball and gets in trouble because of his bad temper. So he's not happy when his teammate Spencer points out that Jared needs to be more of a team player. For grades 4-7.
RC066630
Dinosaur Trouble by Dick King-Smith
Nosy, a young pterodactyl who loves flying, and Banty, an apatosaurus who prefers walking, become friends despite their parents' objections about their differences. But mutual fear of the T. rex helps Nosy and Banty teach their families to get along. Easy chapter book. For grades 2-4.
RC063710
Blizzard of the Blue Moon by Mary Pope Osborne
Merlin the magician sends Jack and Annie to New York during the Great Depression in 1938 when a blizzard is burying the city. Their mission is to find an ancient fantasy creature--the last unicorn. For grades 2-4.
RC066010
Jumper: Griffin's Story by Steven Gould
Nine-year-old Griff O'Conner causes his parents' murders in San Diego when he teleports himself to avoid a bully. Griff hides with friends until, at sixteen, he is ready to confront the killers. Sequel to Jumper. Violence and strong language. For junior and senior high readers.
“Knowledge is free at the library. Just bring your own container.” quote by unknown author
Talking Book Library Annual Customer Survey
Dear Talking Book Library customer,
Please take a few minutes of your time to complete the following survey. We at the Jacksonville Talking Book library value your opinion and want to assist you in any way to make our service more satisfying. Your responses are confidential. To submit this survey, please fold it in half and then staple or tape it together. Please do not affix postage as this survey has already been labeled as “FREE MATTER FOR THE BLIND AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED”.
Thank you for your participation.
1. Has the Talking Book Library staff been courteous, prompt and helpful when you called or visited the library?
YES NO
2. How often do you contact the Talking Book Library for assistance?
OFTEN SOMETIMES RARELY NEVER
3. Are you satisfied with the number of books that you receive?
YES TOO MANY TOO FEW
4. If you receive books that are selected based upon your reading interests are you receiving enough to satisfy your reading habits?
YES NO
5. If you have already received a digital Talking Book Player how would you rate it?
I love it
It's okay
I don't like it
6. Do you access the BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) program in order to download books?
YES NO
7. How long have you been a customer of the Talking Book Library?
< 1 YEAR 1 - 3 YEARS
3 - 10 YEARS > 10 YEARS
8. How would you rate your overall Talking Book Library service?
EXCELLENT GOOD FAIR POOR
Donations and Memorials
The Talking Book Library would like to thank everyone who has helped us this year through their generous donations as well as those whose final wishes included helping us to better serve users of Talking Book Library services in Jacksonville. All gifts and memorial donations to the Talking Book Library are tax-deductible and will be used to acquire materials for circulation as well as supplies to help us better serve our customers. Acknowledgments are sent to all donors. For memorial donations, please remember to include the name of the person for whom the memorial is made and the name and address of those to be notified.
If you like the...Vampire novels
You’ll like the…
The Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris
The Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton
The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice
The Saint-Germain Chronicles by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
New Descriptive Movies
DVD
DW070554 Land of the Lost
DW070555 The Princess and the Frog
DW070556 2012
DW070557 The Vampire’s Assistant: Cirque Du Freak
DW070558 Love Happens
Coming Soon
Alice in Wonderland
District 9
Zombieland
Couples Retreat
The Fourth Kind
Did You Hear About the Morgans?
Planet 51
It’s Complicated
Toy Story & Toy Story 2
Call 630-1999 to have a descriptive video catalog mailed to you.
Check out our blog! jaxtbl-coea.blogspot.com
Free Described Movie series at the Main Library
The Talking Book Library would like to invite our customers, their friends and family, and anyone else who might enjoy a movie in described format to attend our next free showing in the Main Library Auditorium. We will be showing the animated family comedy Toy Story 2 on Friday, August 20th. This movie series is held on the third Friday of the month and show time is at 10am. Please call 630-1999 for more information.
Insight Online
The Jacksonville Talking Book Library’s Newsletter The Insight can now be viewed online at: www.jaxpubliclibrary.org/lib/talkingbooks.html. It can be viewed in the same format as the printed version of the newsletter as well as a text-only version intended to be read by adaptive technology screen reading programs such as ZoomText, OpenBook, JAWS, Kurzweil, etc.
Talking Book Club
Talking Book Club is a book club for visually impaired individuals. They meet at 10 am on the 4th Friday of every month at ILAB (Independent Living for the Adult Blind) at the Florida State College at Jacksonville downtown campus to discuss a monthly selected book. Call 633-8220 for more information.
Summer Schedule 2010
Holidays & Closings
September 6 · Labor Day
Talking Books Library Staff
Tim Meusel, Tape Inspector
Chris Eaton, Librarian
Solomon Oliver, Page
Juan Thomas, Library Assistant
Jerry Reynolds, Manager
We’re on the Web! www.klas.com/flbtbl
Arthritis Booklist
RC064016
The First Year — Rheumatoid Arthritis: an Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed. 2005 by M.E.A. McNeil
RC054708
Strong Women and Men Beat Arthritis: the Scientifically Proven Program that Allows People with Arthritis to Take Charge of their Disease. 2002 by Miriam E. Nelson
RC057341
Pain-free Arthritis: a Seven-step Program for Feeling Better Again. 2003 by Harris H. McIlwain
RC061090
Two Hundred Fifty Tips for Making Life with Arthritis Easier. 1997 by Shelley Peterman Schwarz
RC053459
Conquering Rheumatoid Arthritis: the Latest Breakthroughs and Treatments. 2001 by Thomas F. Lee
THE INSIGHT
Main Library
303 N. Laura St.
Jacksonville, Florida 32202
Phone: 904-630-1999
Fax: 904-630-0604
TDD: 904-630-2740
Hours:
Monday through Friday
9am to 5pm